It was her turn to shine indeed.
“Damn, Pepper, this is amazing.” Jack’s cheek brushed hers as they watched together. Live-action video merged with shots donated by family and friends—it must’ve looked like magic to someone who didn’t know the process.
But the amazing thing was the man nestled so close to her side that his body heat wrapped around her like a blanket, his fingers casually linked through hers as if he couldn’t get enough of touching her.
Whatever magic was happening on the screen, there was more magic happening in her heart.
The moment it was done everything became a blur. She heard voices offering congratulations, along with thunderous applause from down on the ballroom floor. She got a thumbs-up from Parker in passing, but none of that registered beyond a momentary flash.
Jack had her by the hand, dragging her to his car.
His rush to leave suddenly struck her as hilarious, and she started giggling. Maybe it was the tension, maybe it was sheer relief, but she couldn’t stop laughing for long enough to draw a full breath. She clutched his arm and fought for balance as he turned her carefully, grinning at her.
“You are incredible.”
“I am so ready to crash, you wouldn’t believe it.” She draped her hands around his neck, leaning back on the car door as she stared up into his gorgeous eyes. “I’m glad that’s over with.”
His expression grew more serious. “There’s still something we need to deal with.”
Ugh. Kendra.
Pepper nodded slowly. “By the way, I really do hope you didn’t do anything drastic to Adam.”
“He’s still alive. We had a discussion about the difference between defending a woman and being a creep, and I think he’s got it solid now.” Jack closed the distance between them and planted a fiery kiss on her lips. Like a branding, one hand holding their lips together, the other pressed to her lower back to seal their bodies so tight she could feel every muscular inch of him.
Pepper wasn’t sure what had set him off, but she really didn’t care. She liked this side of Jack very much.
When he finally let her breathe, she glanced up at him from under her lashes. “You know nothing happened between me and Adam. Never did, never will.”
“Damn right.”
He said it with such conviction, Pepper laughed again. Her amusement faded as he pulled open the car door for her. “Kendra.”
“We’ll deal with her.” Jack lowered himself so their eyes were on the same level. “Not that I don’t think you’re capable, but you don’t have to do this alone. I want to be there for you, at your side.”
There was nowhere she would rather have him.
Letting herself into the apartment felt eerily like entering a tomb. A mess of boxes lay scattered in the living room, items pouring out of the top of them as if they’d been hastily filled.
Jack moved in front of her defensively, and Pepper didn’t bother to protest. She called out a warning. “Kendra. I’m home. We need to talk.”
A loud crash rang from the back bedroom that Kendra had claimed. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Well, she’s a fucking dreamer if she thinks that’s all it will take,” Jack muttered.
Pepper agreed, but none of it made sense. “Sit down. I’ll go get her.”
He hesitated then reluctantly shifted toward the couch, perching gingerly on the armrest as if ready to leap to her defense at a moment’s notice.
She wasn’t going to do anything stupid, but this had to get cleared up here and now. She cautiously stuck her head around the corner into Kendra’s room to discover her friend had most of her stuff packed into suitcases. “Going somewhere?”
Kendra glanced up, her eyes puffy and red from crying. “Don’t be a smartass.”
Fighting back a retort that wouldn’t get them anywhere, Pepper moved farther into the door opening. “Obviously you’re packing, but I think I deserve a little more information. I’m going back to the living room, and I expect you to join me there when you’re ready.”
She didn’t bother to wait for a response, just stomped back to Jack’s side. She leaned into his body and breathed slowly, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart. If Kendra didn’t come out this was going to get even more awkward.
But the petite blonde joined them not even two minutes later, dropping the suitcases she carried in either hand by the front door before turning back to face them, arms crossed, face pulled into a sullen pout. “What?”
Not this again. Pepper was ready to scream. “How about you explain what the heck happened today. You straight-up lied to me, to Jack. Heck, I found out that you lied to Adam, too.”